Apparatus for the guiding of trim strips from box making machines or the like



March 12, 1963 A. M. KENNEY 3,080,780

APPARATUS FOR THE GUIDING OF TRIM STRIPS FROM BOX MAKING MACHINES OR THE LIKE Filed April 22, 1960 INVENTOR. F5- 5 ALBERT M. KENNEY HIS A 7' TOPNE Y States atent Gfitice 3,080,780 APPARATUS FOR THE GUIDING F TRIM STRIPS FROM BOX MAKING MACHINES OR THE LIKE Albert M. Kenney, Rte. 2, Utica, Ohio Filed Apr. 22, 1960, Ser. N 0. 23,988 14 Claims. (Cl. 83105) This invention relates to improvements in devices useful in connection with box making machines and more particularly to means for controlling the disposition of strips or pieces of material trimmed from the edges of box blanks during the forming operation.

As is well known to those versed in the art, certain types of machines for making box blanks, and particularly those of the corrugated paperboard type, include a press into which sheets of box material are fed, one at a time, and in which they may be printed, scored for bending, and, slotted to provide the necessary flaps which permit the ultimate bending, foldingand assembly into suitable boxes. The blanks, as they emerge from the machine, are usually subjected to a final trimming operation which removes a relatively narrow strip of material from one or both edges of the blank to bring it to the proper ultimate size. The Width of the trim strip or strips may vary depending upon the size of the raw material and the size of the box. In the interest of economy raw sheets of approximately the correct size to make a box may be used, but some trimming is usually necessary in order to retain the correct dimensions on the blank to provide uniformity in the ultimate product.

The blanks, as they emerge from the press, fall onto a conveyor and are conveyed to a table where they are deposited one on top of the other to provide a stack of blanks. After a stack ofa predetermined number have been deposited onto the table they are removed and packaged for shipment to the user.

Usually the blanks are shipped unfolded and the final folding operation completed by the user at the time of packaging the goods.

At the outlet of the machine, both the trim strips and the blanks emerge simultaneously. Since the trim strip is usually severed at the outlet, it frequently occurs that they may move over onto or under the blank and be conveyed to the stack on the table, where one or more of the trim strips becomes stacked in betweeen the finished blanks.

The trim strips must be removed from between the blanks because they cause the stack to have uneven dimensions which interferes with the packaging for shipment. Furthermore even if they could be packaged with the blanks they could not be tolerated because they would cause undesirable markings on the blanks and cause bending of the blanks which would detract from the clean appearance of the boxes and interfere with their subsequent use. a

When the trim strip gets into a stack of blanks, the machine must be shut down, the stack taken apart one by one, the trim strips removed and the stack reformed. This results in a considerable amount of down time for the machine, as Well as the loss of time for two or more workmen.

By the present invention there has been provided an apparatus, one or more of which may be attached to the machine, whereby the trim strips are diverted from the blanks and there is no chance of the trim strips getting into the stack.

Furthermore by this invention the trim strips may be directed onto a conveyor whereby they are removed from the vicinity of the machine, thus eliminating the need for an extra workman, whose job is simply to get rid of trim strips.

Still other advantages of the invention and the invention itself will become more apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated by the accompanying drawings and forms a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing the discharge end of a press diagrammatically, a blank conveyor, a stacking table and with a side elevational view of the trim. strip diverter connected thereto;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the diverter removed from the machine;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are sections taken from the lines 3-3 and 4-4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view thereof; and

FIG. 6 is a view in vertical section of a clamp member used with the invention.

Briefly, the invention contemplates a box-like diverter section which may be rigidly supported at the discharge end of the box making machine and having a diverter wall disposed at the parting line between the trim strip and the blank. I-lingedly connected to the first diverter section are other inverted channel sections, all of which unitarily cooperate to provide a guide means which guides the trim strip down and away from the box blanks. Means is provided whereby the angularity of each section, relative to the other, may be adjusted to provide the desired overall contour for the guide.

Referring now to the drawings, throughout which like parts are designated by like reference characters, and particularly to FIG. 1, wherein there has been diagrammatically shown the side of the rear portion of a box making machine. The sides '10 of the machine are of conventional construction, well known to the art. As previously explained, raw sheets of box material are fed into the entrance of the machine, not shown, and are ultimately processed by printing, slotting and scoring until the processed blank 9 finally reaches the trim strip severing rolls 11 and 12 at the discharge end of the machine. Usually there is a bracing bar 14, which extends between the sides 10, across the discharge end of the machine which may be used to support the apparatus of the invention. Other support means for the device could be provided however, so long as the device may have a stable support at the discharge side and close to the trim strip severing rolls 11 and 12.

The apparatus of the invention comprises a first diverter member 20 including a rectangular top Wall 21 having a downwardly depending separator wall 22 at one side, and a bottom wall 23 in spaced parallel relation to the top wall. The bottom wall 23 is considerably shorter in length than the top wall. In the drawings it is illustnated as being approximately one-half the length of the top wall, but its length may vary. At the edges of the top wall 21 and bottom wall 23, there are provided downwardly and upwardly extending flanges 24 and 25, which are coextensive with the top and bottom walls, extended toward but terminating spaced from each other. The forward edges of these walls are beveled at 24a and 25a. The forward edge 22a of the separator wall tapers to a thin knife edge.

The unit is secured to the cross bar 14 by bolts 28, which pass through openings in the top wall 21, the heads being engaged on the underside of the top wall, and the shanks extending up alongside the bar 14, on opposite sides thereof. Clamp plates 29 are provided on top of the bar, through which the bolts extend, and wing nuts 30 are provided on the clamp bolts, above the bars, whereby the assembly may be securely and rigidly clamped to the bar 14.

It will be appreciated that the design of the clamping means could vary depending upon the shape of the bar 14. It is also apparent that other forms of support for the member 20 could be provided in event there was no convenient bar 14 to which it might be secured.

The unit is secured in position with the edge 22a close to and opposite the cutting portions of the cutting rolls 1'1 and 12 with the knife edge in alignment with the parting line for the trim strip 8 and the body 9 of the blank being processed.

The cut-off blades are usually disposed above and to one end of a belt conveyor, shown diagrammatically at 30. The conveyor is conventional and comprises spaced belts 31 trained around pulleys 32, supported on shafts 33 and driven by a motor, not shown. The blank is conveyed by the conveyor to a stacking table 34, at the discharge end of the conveyor, where the blanks are stacked one on top of the other. The member 20 may be disposed at any place where the trim strip is removed. If two trim strips are removed, two of the apparatus would be provided. The first diverter member is followed by a train of diverter and guide members which cooperate with the first member to direct the trim strip to the place desired.

A hinge leaf 40 is secured to the top of the diverter member 20, spaced from the end, and is provided with pintle receiving sockets 41 for receiving a hinge pin or pintle. A second diverter and guide member 44 is provided and is hingedly connected to the member 20. The end of the member 44 is formed with a series of pintle receiving sockets which cooperate with the socket 41 to receive the hinge pin in the ordinary manner.

The second diverter member 44 comprises a top wall of generally rectangular formation and downwardly extending side walls 45 which are generally triangular in shape with the apex being at the hinge end mentioned. The side walls are spaced apart sutficiently that they may overlap the side walls of the member 20. The top Wall is provided with a curvature at 45a which provides clear ance space for the outer edge of the member 20 and enables the member 44 to be inclined downwardly at a considerable angle relative to the member 20. Since there is thus some overlapping of the top walls, the wall of the member 44 overlapping that of the member 20 in the opposite direction of travel of the trim strip, there are no abrupt discontinuities or abutments against which the trim strip may catch. The same overlapping relation is likewise true of the side walls of the respective elements.

Next in the train of elements is a third guide element 50 likewise having a substantially rectangular top and having generally rectangular side walls 51, depending therefrom. As in the member 44, the top wall curves downward at 52 and has a hinge pin leaf 53 secured to its end. The downwardly curved formation, as in the other element, provides clearance space, enabling it to be inclined downward at an angle relative to the member 44. Like the member 44, the side walls 51 are spaced apart sufliciently that they overlap the side walls 45 of the element 44. Likewise the hinge is so disposed that the top of the element 51 overlaps that of the preceding element 44.

Following the third element there may be a fourth element 60 secured to the third element in the same way the third element is secured to the second element. In this particular element illustrated, the side walls are provided with tongues 61 which overlap the side walls 51. It should be pointed out that the shape of the side walls may all be the same or they may vary, as shown in the drawings, the main desideratum being, that the top walls overlap to prevent any abrupt discontinuity, and, the side walls likewise overlap for the same reason, to permit a small transition of the trim strip along the entire apparatus with nothing to catch and/or cause the trim strip to buckle.

It will thus be seen that the guide means is articulated and bendable to various positions whereby the travel of the trim strip, as it leaves the press, may be directed to any predetermined position.

Preferably it is desirable that a single point of support be provided for the apparatus, although more than one point of support could be used, in order that the space at the discharge end of the machine is not unduly encumbered. To this end the main or first element 20 and its connector to the machine constitutes the primary support and the other elements depend from this element. It is also desirable, once a desired configuration of the elements is obtained, that this configuration may be maintained. At the same time it is desirable to be able to adjust this configuration quickly and easily.

Although friction type of hinges could be used to maintain the desired configuration, I have found that, due to the length of the device, other means can be used to thus avoid undue stress on any of the hinges.

To this end the element 20 is provided with an upstanding lug 70 rigidly secured to the top wall 21 and having an aperture through which a cable 72 extends, the cable being provided with a head 73 to prevent the cable from being pulled through the lug. The end of the cable could be secured to the top wall 21 in other manners than that described, such as by clamps or by Welding.

The cable 72 may be of the flexible type, such as used for drives for rotating parts, or could be solid. The main attribute it must have is a suflicient degree of flexibility to carry out the purpose to be described.

The cable passes from the lug 70 along the tops of the elements 44-50 and 60 at approximately the midline thereof. It is locked to each element by quickly releasable clamps illustrated at 75.

As best shown in FIG. 6, each clamp member comprises a V-shaped base 7677 having a pair of aligned openings 78 through which the cable 72 extends. Between the two elements 76 and 77 of the base there is disposed a loose leaf 79 having an opening 80 through which the cable also extends. The opening 80 is sufficiently small that the leaf cannot reach the side 76 of the base. A helical spring 81 surrounds the cable between the leaf 79 and the base 77, pressing the leaf toward the base side 76. In this position the edges of the opening 80 bite into the cable and hold it against movement relative to the element to which it is attached. In other words, the clamp means is such that the weight of the element causes the lock to hold it against downward movement. The elements may be moved downward, each independent of the other, by moving the lever 79 toward the base part 77 against the pressure of the spring 81 to cause all the holes in each clamp, through which the cable passes, to be aligned.

The operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoing descripion, suffice to say that the device being disposed with the wall of the first element close to the cutter blades 1112 and with the knife edge 22a opposite the parting line 7 of the trim strip and blank. The trim strip 8 enters into the first part of the element 20 and is guided by the succeeding elements to its point of destination which may be a conveyor, not shown, that conducts the strip away from the machine. It will thus be seen that the trim strips cannot possibly get into the stack of box blanks on the table 34 and that no shut down time is needed, either to clear the stack of blanks or to rid the machine of the debris caused by the trim strips.

Having thus described the invention in an embodiment thereof, it is appreciated that numerous and extensive departures may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for controlling the disposition of a trim strip on a paper box making machine wherein a blank box is discharged from a discharge end of the machine along with a trim strip which is severed from the blank by ap air of cutting members comprising, a first shield member supported opposite the point of ejection of the trim strip at the parting line of the trim strip and blank arranged to enter between the two and a second shield member hingedly connected to the first member, said shield members arranged to divert the parted trim strip away from the formed box blank.

2. An apparatus for controlling the disposition of a trim strip on a paper box making machine wherein a blank box is discharged from a discharge end of the machine along with a trim strip which is severed from the blank by a pair of cutting members comprising, a first shield member supported opposite the point of ejection of the trim strip and at the parting line of the trim strip and blank and arranged to enter between the two and a second shield member hingedly connected to and overlapping the first member, said shield members arranged to divert the parted trim strip away from the formed box blank.

3. An apparatus for controlling the disposition of a trim strip on a paper box making machine wherein a blank box is discharged from a discharge end of the machine along with a trim strip which is severed from the blank by a pair of cutting members comprising, a first shield member having a wall disposed at the parting line between the box blank and the trim strip arranged to separate the two, and a second shield member hingedly connected to the first member, said members arranged to divert the parted trim strip away from the box blank.

4. An apparatus for controlling the disposition of a trim strip on a paper box making machine wherein a blank box is discharged from a discharge end of the machine along with a trim strip which is severed from the blank by a pair of cutting members comprising, a first shield member arranged to be supported at the outlet of said machine and having a first vertical wall closely disposed opposite the parting line of the trim strip and blank and arranged to enter between the two, horizontal top and bottom walls extending laterally from the upper and lower ends of the vertical wall and a second shield member connected to said first shield member for diverting the parted trim strip down and away from the box blank.

5. An apparatus as described in claim 4, wherein the bottom horizontal wall extends close to the exit of the machine and terminates short of the top wall in a direction away from the machine.

6. An apparatus as described in claim 5, wherein said horizontal walls are provided with flanges extending normal thereto in spaced relation to each other.

7. An apparatus for controlling the disposition of a trim strip on a paper box making machine wherein a blank box is discharged from a discharge end of the machine along with a trim strip which is severed from the blank by a pair of cutting members comprising, a first diverter member, means to rigidly support said member at the outlet of said machine at the parting line between the trim strip and the box blank and arranged to enter 6 between the two, a train of subsequent diverter members hingedly connected to the first member and to each succeeding members for diverting the parted trim strip and guide it away from the blank.

8. An apparatus as described in claim 7, wherein means is provided connected to the diverter members for adjusting the angle of connection of each member-with the other.

9. An apparatus as described in claim 8, wherein said connecting means comprises a bendable member having one end secured to the first diverter member, clamp means secured to each of said succeeding diverter members, said clamp means on each of said members being disposed in individual clamping relation with said bendable member.

10. An apparatus as described in claim 7, wherein means is provided connected to the first diverter member and between the other members for adjusting the angle of connection of each member with the other.

11. An apparatus for controlling the disposition of a trim strip on a paper box making machine wherein a blank box is discharged from a discharge end of the machine along with a trim strip which is severed from the blank by a pair of cutting members comprising, a first diverter member, mean-s to rigidly support said member at the outlet of said machine at the parting line between the trim strip and the box blank and arranged to enter between the two, a train of subsequent diverter members hingedly connected to the first member and to each succeeding members, each of said subsequent diverter members overlapping the preceding diverter member and arranged to divert the parted trim strip away from the blank.

12. An apparatus for controlling the disposition of a trim strip severed from a box blank on a box blank making machine wherein said machine is provided with an outlet and one or more strips are severed from the box blank by trimming rolls at the outlet end of the machine for diverting one or more trim strips away from the box blank comprising, a first diverter member rigidly supported by the machine at the discharge end thereof and having a vertical wall disposed closely to the trimming rolls and at the parting line of the trim strips and box blank and arranged to enter between the trim strip and blanks, an upper horizontal wall connected to said vertical wall and extending away from the box blank for engaging and guiding the trim strip away from the blank, a plurality of succeeding diverter members, each comprising an upper wall and downwardly depending side walls at least one of which is in substantial alignment with the vertical wall of said first diverter member, said first of said succeeding members being hingedly connected to the first diverter and each of said succeeding diverter members being hingedly connected to the top of the preceding member for further guiding the trim strip away from the blank.

13. An apparatus for controlling the disposition of a trim strip severed from a box blank on a box blank making machine wherein said machine is provided with an outlet and one or more strips are severed from the box blank by trimming rolls at the outlet end of the machine for diverting one or more trim strips away from the box blank comprising, a first diverter member rigidly sup ported by the machine at the discharge end thereof and having a vertical wall disposed closely to the trimming rolls and at the parting line of the trim strips and box blank arranged to enter between the trim strip and blank, upper and lower horizontal walls in spaced relation to each other connected to said vertical wall and extending away from the box blank for receiving and guiding the trim strip therebetween, a plurality of succeeding di verter members, each comprising an upper wall and downwardly depending side walls at least one of which is in substantial alignment with the vertical Wall of said first diverter member, said first of said succeeding members being hingedly connected to the top of the first diverter and each said succeeding diverter members being hingedly connected to the top of the preceding member for further guiding the trim strip away from the blank.

14. An apparatus as described in claim 12, wherein means is provided connected between each of the members to adjustthe angularity of each member relative to the other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Saunders Jan. 30, 1917 Milne Nov. 5, 1929 Richardson et a1 June 28, 1955 Wenzel Aug. 7, 1956 Mester Dec. 23, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS France Ian. 5 1935 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE DISPOSTION OF A TRIM STRIP ON A PAPER BOX MAKING MACHINE WHEREIN A BLANK BOX IS DISCHARGED FROM A DISCHARGE END OF THE MACHINE ALONG WITH A TRIM STRIP WHICH IS SEVERED FROM THE BLANK BY AP AIR OF CUTTING MEMBERS COMPRISING, A FIRST SHIELD MEMBER SUPPORTED OPPOSITE THE POINT OF EJECTION OF THE TRIM STRIP AT THE PARTING LINE OF THE TRIM STRIP AND BLANK ARRANGED TO ENTER BETWEEN THE TWO AND A SECOND SHIELD MEMBER HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE FIRST MEMBER, SAID SHIELD MEMBERS ARRANGED TO DIVERT THE PARTED TRIM STRIP AWAY FROM THE FORMED BOX BLANK. 